Date:02/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/02/stories/2008090260310800.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Doctors go on mass casual leave

Special Correspondent

VISAKHAPATNAM: Nearly 250 professors, associate professors and assistant professors of Andhra Medical College and its six teaching hospitals, including the King George Hospital went on a mass casual leave as part of a State-wide agitation by the Government doctors on Monday.

Surgeries postponed

The agitation was against the Government’s proposal to make the Government hospitals semi-autonomous and other issues.

As the doctors went on leave, the work at the hospital was managed with the help of post-graduates, house surgeons, nurses and class IV staff, while senior doctors extended their cooperation to deal with emergency cases, said Superintendent of KGH M.V.R.J. Somayajulu. “But no emergency work has been affected. The surgeries fixed earlier had to be postponed”.

There are 1,100 inpatients and 10 operation theatres in the hospital and Monday is the busiest day in the OP wing as many from outside the State also come on this day. In the absence of senior doctors, the PGs and house surgeons managed the OP.

Long wait

The patients have been attended but they had to wait for a longer time in the queue.

Work was also affected at the Govt. Victoria Hospital (Ghosha hospital), Regional Eye Hospital, the RCD Hospital, ENT Hospital, Hospital for Chest Diseases and the Govt. Hospital for Mental Health.